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The FDA reported 76 confirmed infections across 16 states in an outbreak involving several E. coli strains and Salmonella Agona, with alfalfa sprouts from Minneapolis-based Everything Sprouts identified as one source. Six people have been hospitalized and no deaths reported. Investigators say the sprouts do not explain every illness, and the full scope remains uncertain.
The FDA reported 76 confirmed patients in 16 states as of Oct. 1 in an outbreak involving multiple strains of E. coli and Salmonella Agona associated in part with alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts LLC of Minneapolis. Six people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported; investigators say the sprouts do not account for every illness under investigation.
The confirmed cases include 64 people infected with E. coli, nine with Salmonella and three infected with both. The E. coli outbreak strains include O26:H11, O103:H25 and O168:H8. The FDA says illnesses began between May 31 and Sept. 7. Patients live in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
State and local public health officials have interviewed 50 patients about foods eaten during the week before illness began. Of those interviewed, 40 reported eating sprouts, and 35 specifically recalled alfalfa sprouts. The FDA says epidemiologic and traceback evidence identifies alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts as one source of illnesses, while stressing that they do not explain all cases.
Everything Sprouts began a recall on Aug. 22 covering certain alfalfa sprouts sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, as well as Robust Radish, Crunchy Protein Sprout and Zesty Garlic mixes. Separately, Berlin Seeds of Millersburg, Ohio, recalled 950 pounds of alfalfa sprouting seeds on Sept. 23 after its supplier warned that the seed could be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or Salmonella. The FDA says traceback linked lot SAL2-24JB to another grower whose finished sprouts were part of the investigation. The agency has not named the seed supplier.
Why Sprout Tracebacks Matter
The case count spans 16 states, and the investigation involves two types of bacteria rather than a single pathogen. Sprouts are commonly eaten raw or lightly cooked, so contaminated products may reach consumers without a cooking step that could reduce bacteria. The evidence so far links one grower’s alfalfa sprouts to some infections, but the FDA’s statement that they do not explain all cases means the source picture is still incomplete.
The outbreak also illustrates why recalls can involve both finished foods and ingredients used by more than one grower. Berlin Seeds’ recalled lot was identified through traceback as seed used by another grower in the investigation, but the agency has not publicly identified the seed supplier. That limits what consumers can establish about the full supply chain from the available notice.
The official total is a count of confirmed, identified patients, not a measure of every infection. The source report notes that some sick people do not seek care and others are not tested. It cites CDC estimates that for each Salmonella case identified in an outbreak, 29 may go undetected, and for each identified E. coli case, 26 may go undetected. Those are estimates, not additional confirmed cases in this outbreak.
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Recalls and Case Timeline
The FDA first reported the outbreak on Aug. 21, when 55 patients had been identified. Everything Sprouts announced its recall the following day. The Oct. 1 update raised the confirmed count to 76 and added another state to the outbreak tally, although the supplied report does not specify which state was newly added.
The investigation connects illnesses to sprouts through interviews with patients and traceback work on products and seeds. The FDA’s findings identify Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts as one source, while the seed recall relates to a separate grower whose sprouts were also part of the investigation. The available information does not establish that every recalled product or seed lot caused an illness.
The illnesses involve several E. coli serotypes and Salmonella Agona. Some patients were infected with more than one outbreak strain. This combination makes clear that the reported total is not simply one group of patients with one organism: three people are counted among those infected with both E. coli and Salmonella.
“Alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts LLC are a source of illnesses in this outbreak, [but] these sprouts do not explain all the illnesses.”
— Food and Drug Administration
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Gaps in the Outbreak Investigation
The FDA’s update does not name the additional state referenced in the report’s headline, nor does it identify the seed supplier. It also does not explain which infections are linked to which products beyond identifying Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts as one source and the seed lot’s connection to another grower involved in the investigation.
It remains unclear how many illnesses have not yet been detected, whether further products or growers will be linked, and how the remaining cases divide among possible sources. The 76 patients are confirmed cases reported as of Oct. 1; estimates of undetected infections should not be read as a case count for this specific outbreak.
The supplied information does not give full product codes, distribution details or a current inventory of recalled items. Consumers should consult the relevant FDA and company recall notices to check product identification and handling instructions rather than assume that every sprout product is affected.
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Further Testing and Case Interviews
Public health officials are continuing to interview patients about foods eaten before they became ill, while investigators trace products and ingredients through the supply chain. Further laboratory testing, traceback findings or newly identified patients could change the case count and clarify whether other growers or products are connected.
Consumers who have a product covered by a recall should follow the instructions in the official recall notice and avoid eating it. Anyone who ate a potentially implicated product and develops symptoms should contact a health care provider and mention the possible exposure. E. coli illness can include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, often bloody; Salmonella symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Symptoms alone cannot confirm the cause, and medical testing may be needed.
People with severe symptoms, signs of dehydration or concerning changes in urination should seek prompt medical advice. The FDA’s next public update, if issued, is expected to provide any revised patient totals and additional findings; the source material does not give a date for another update.
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Key Questions
How many people are confirmed ill?
The FDA reported 76 confirmed patients as of Oct. 1, 2026, across 16 states. The total includes 64 E. coli infections, nine Salmonella infections and three people infected with both.
Which sprouts have been linked to the outbreak?
The FDA identifies alfalfa sprouts grown by Everything Sprouts LLC as one source of illnesses. Certain products were recalled under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, along with Robust Radish, Crunchy Protein Sprout and Zesty Garlic mixes. The agency says those sprouts do not explain every illness.
Were there deaths or hospitalizations?
Six people were hospitalized, and no deaths had been reported in the Oct. 1 update.
What should someone do if they ate recalled sprouts?
Follow the applicable recall notice and do not eat a recalled product. If symptoms develop after a possible exposure, contact a health care provider and describe the food exposure. Symptoms can have other causes, and testing may be needed to diagnose E. coli or Salmonella.
Is the full source of the outbreak known?
No. The FDA says Everything Sprouts alfalfa sprouts are one source, but they do not explain all illnesses. Investigators are continuing interviews and traceback work, and the FDA has not named the seed supplier connected to the separate seed recall.
Source: rss
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